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November 2019

ACTION PLAN

HAJDÚ-BIHAR COUNTY

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NIGHT LIGHT PROJECT

“Improving regional policies to reduce light pollution and protect

and valorise dark night skies”

ACTION PLAN OF

HAJDÚ-BIHAR COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Debrecen

November 2019 Cover photos: www.hnp.hu

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Part I – GENERAL INFORMATION

Project: NIGHT LIGHT - Improving regional policies to reduce light pollution and protect and

valorise dark night skies

Partner organisation concerned: HBCG – Hajdú-Bihar County Government

Other partner organisations involved (if relevant): -

Country: Hungary

NUTS2 region: Észak-Alföld

NUTS3 county: Hajdú-Bihar

Contact person: Tünde Szabó

Email address: [email protected]

Phone number: +36 20 413 2673

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Part II – POLICY CONTEXT

The Action Plan aims to impact:

Investment for Growth and Jobs programme

European Territorial Cooperation programme

Other regional development policy instrument

Name of the policy instrument addressed:

Territorial and Settlement Development Operational Programme (TOP) 2014 – 2020

Further details on the policy context and the way the action plan should contribute to improve the

policy instrument:

As a general background for state-of-the-art, Hortobágy National Park in Hajdú-Bihar County

obtained Dark Sky Park status from International Dark Sky Association (USA) in 2011,

acknowledging the pristine dark skies of the area. The Dark Sky Park’s significance is related to the

undisturbed night time landscape, the shepherd tradition related to the starlit skies and the

protection of the high biodiversity, especially the great number of migrating bird species and

special, nocturnal insect species. It is notable that many of the important breeding and nesting

bird species (geese, crane, crakes etc.) and other species, especially many rare insect species are

sensitive to light pollution.

Being a Dark Sky Park is an important tool to protect the nocturnal wildlife habitats and the

landscape values of the Hortobágy which as an outstanding and unaltered wilderness area in the

Great Hungarian Plain, in the middle of Europe. The Park has a cooperation agreement with local

stakeholders and with local and national conservation and astronomy NGOs to protect the area’s

dark sky values. The Park included the articles of the Lighting Plan of the Dark Sky Park to its

Management Plan to protect the natural and scenic values of the undisturbed night time

environment.

The lighting regulations and the zoning gives us a possibility to control artificial lights within the

park. Further work with local communities is still needed to reduce light emissions outside of the

park.

The National Park organizes night time stargazing walks, special interpretation programs related

to Dark Sky Park values and good lighting practices. There is a high interest by the general public

to attend these night time adventures. Astronomy became part of the park’s Field Study Center’s

curriculum. A public astronomical observatory is also part of the Center.

To further develop this potential for eco/astrotourism, the County now intends to encourage other

regional actors (public, private) to develop concrete initiatives for sustainable tourism in the Dark

Sky Park.

Focusing on the policy addressed, the Territorial and Settlement Development Operational

Programme (TOP) 2014 - 2020 is an ERDF funded, centralised Operational Programme for

territorial development of Hungarian regions, aiming at economic development, job creation and

strengthening local identity. We aimed to improve implementation of following priorities (both

linked to T.O.6):

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Priority 1: Sustainable tourism development - Specific Objective 1B: Utilising endogen potential of

territorial character for tourism to raise employment

Priority 2: Enterprise friendly territorial development, incl. improvement of green areas and

environmental protection - Specific Objective 2A: Fostering economic development and

population retention with initiatives for (…) decreasing environmental impact on settlements and

decreasing amounts of pollutants.

Priority 1 contains measures in terms of tourism development of the county. Settlements can

implement destination developments, improvement of tourist attractions, without harming the

environment. This includes valorisation of dark skies in areas where this can be a tourist attraction,

such as Hortobágy Dark Sky Park in Hajdú-Bihar county.

Tourism development in this kind of vulnerable areas requires careful balance of the need for

developments, the need for tourists and the need for environment protection.

Priority 2 contains all incentives and development possibilities that a city or a town could utilize to

improve the environment of settlements and to implement green concepts. This includes

development of green areas, energy efficiency actions and other interventions to decrease

environmental pressures. These developments should aim at the improvement of economic

environment that could attract new investors to the area.

Regarding Priority 1, we aimed to further develop sustainable tourism in Hajdú-Bihar County,

Hortobágy National Park, building on its Dark Sky Park status. Our action plan was planned to

focus on introducing new initiatives for environmental and ecotourism, development of event

infrastructures that fit the Dark Skies concept and combine development with good protection.

Linked to Priority 2, we planned to define actions for cities around Hortobágy National Park and

other vulnerable environmental sites in the county to maintain dark skies in the area by

implementing street lighting in an efficient way.

Hajdú-Bihar County Government together with the regional stakeholders, aimed to improve

implementation of the TOP 2014-2020 by introducing new projects and initiatives that can be

realised in the region with the support of the TOP.

By the end of Phase 1, it became clear that due to progress of national operational programmes,

there is no option to introduce new projects as there are no further calls within this programming

period. In order to have a direct impact on the current policy, we took the advantage of the recent

project of Hajdú-Bihar County Government (TOP 5.3.2 – Strengthening county identity – Following

“Hajdú” traditions – a project financed by and implemented within the addressed policy).

Within this project, there is a strongly defined intention of Hajdú-Bihar County Government

to build the theme of shepherd’s culture and traditions linked to starry sky into the

activities to strengthen county identity, to protect and preserve cultural heritage and

utilize its potential based on storytelling.

The regular smooth and strong cooperation with the targeted policy’s responsible body, the

Managing Authority for Regional Development Operational Programmes, Ministry of Finance

strongly contributed to the creation of a mutually appreciated, well-based action plan document

being applicable even beyond the project lifetime.

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That’s why we are going to build Night Light’s lessons learnt into the above-mentioned TOP project,

strongly collaborating with its Managing Authority to provide the opportunity for the future wider

utilization of the results.

Beyond this direct link to the policy addressed, based on the systematic and collaborative efforts

of Hajdú-Bihar County Government and the Night Light regional stakeholder team, there is a

significant improvement in case of paying attention to light pollution and relevant professional

recommendations concerning several policies:

• light pollution issues and astrotourism related topics have been inserted in the baseline

document of the modification and the policy recommendation part of Spatial Development

Plan of Hajdú-Bihar County; specific zones are suggested to be designated as “Dark Sky Park

Zone” – the document is expected to be submitted for comments

• light pollution issues and astrotourism related topics have been inserted to the comments of

settlements’ spatial and regional development plans by the county chief architect so the theme

of light pollution and astrotourism have been widely disseminated to pay local decision

makers’ attention on the importance of these issues

• as concerns astrotourism, the new ecotouristic attraction provided by the Hortobágy Dark

Sky Park became a significant factor in the past years. At the same time – although

astrotourism related activities have been built in the ecotourism offers of the Hortobágy

National Park - utilization is still at low level and infrastructure also needs serious update

and development

• one of the main experiences of recent years is that astrotourism and dark sky-related

environmental education has been integrated in the national park offers, but it can be

further developed and for this development the required human and infrastructural

conditions should be created; furthermore, cooperation with other actors of the tourism

sector also should be enhanced

• the Management Plan of the Hortobágy National Park’s Natura 2000 natural areas of

national significance has been amended by a separate chapter for light pollution

• there is strong intention at national level policy making to develop a specific Guideline on

lighting practice for nature conservation bodies and national park directorates

• discussion on a new legal framework or regulation/law on lighting started

• Hortobágy National Park has been declared as part of the UNESCO-ICOMOS-IAU

Astronomy and World Heritage list in 2018

The interregional learning process allowed stakeholders in Hajdú-Bihar County to identify proven

practices from other EU regions and design an action plan for the improvement of tourism around

Hortobágy Dark Sky Park and to further reduce light emissions from local communities.

The Peer Review event held in Debrecen in 2017 also provided a significant contribution through

its main findings and recommendations.

In order to achieve the objectives defined within the project and utilize the value and potential of

lessons learnt through the interregional learning process including the regular discussions with

regional stakeholders, actions have been defined to adapt the selected good practices and peer

review results.

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Implementing the actions to be introduced will enhance the Territorial and Settlement

Development Operational Programme’s scope and impact on the county’s performance in

✓ preserving its cultural heritage (darky sky, transhumance)

✓ strengthening regional identity and communities (shepherds’ traditions)

✓ protecting natural values and habitats (national park)

✓ raising awareness concerning light pollution at several levels

✓ increasing the economic utilization of natural and cultural values in a sustainable way

(astronomy-gastronomy, linking spa/wellness-national park/nature)

✓ creating a solid team of experts representing different sectors and levels to ensure the

representation of light pollution and astrotourism in several relevant policies

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Part III – DETAILS OF THE ACTIONS ENVISAGED

ACTION 1. Utilizing dark sky as cultural heritage

Action 1 is dedicated to have direct impact on the targeted policy “Territorial and Settlement

Development Operational Programme” through the implementation of the project called

“Strengthening county identity – Following “Hajdú” traditions”.

Specific activities will be built in the process involving the members of the Night Light stakeholder

group as well as the Managing Authority of the targeted policy.

As a result, an innovative new interactive travelling exhibition is planned to be established

introducing the wonderful darky sky heritage of Hortobágy, the role it had on the life and work of

shepherds and how they traditionally used this unique natural value.

This activity is going to be incorporated in the work plan of the TOP 5.3.2 project including the

tasks to be done, the actors, the infrastructure and materials needed as well as the expected

impact.

The costs of this activity will be covered by the TOP 5.3.2 project. Thanks to the engagement of the

Hortobágy Starry Sky Park staff, high-quality expertise and experience will be built in and provided

through the exhibition.

The exhibition is expected to impress visitors (first particularly local communities), to educate

them on the plentiful past and traditions as well as the dark sky being the same as centuries ago.

The process also intends to teach people how to preserve this heritage, what are the sustainable

ways to use.

Direct beneficiaries include the citizens, communities of Hajdú-Bihar County, foreign visitors,

decision makers well as entrepreneurs concerned. Indirect beneficiaries are communities at

national level having similar values, national level policy makers and planning experts.

1. Relevance to the project

The action has been generated on the basis of 2 good practices identified and presented in the

project and the main findings of the peer review held in Debrecen in September 2017:

➢ Good Practice “Astrotourism in the Basilicata region”

➢ Good Practice “La Palma Tourist Destination”

➢ Recommendation of peers to utilize the cultural heritage of shepherds of Hortobágy

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Good practice “Astrotourism in the Basilicata region”

Lessons learnt from Basilicata Region, based on good practice defined in GP Directory and

experienced during the Peer Review in Matera in 2018 and the interregional policy learning event

in 2019

In Basilicata, sky observation on winter and summer solstice have been organized: in cooperation

with the National Research Group “Pedagogy of the sky”, they organize a night tour of the park

along with theatrical performances, both for adults and children, aimed at mapping the stars and

revive either the ancient mythologies and the popular traditions connected to the position of the

stars. Transhumance is also part of the story – similar to transhumance tradition in Hungary, HBCG

plans to take the benefit to build the story in its actions.

Good practice “„La Palma Starlight Tourist Destination””

Lessons learnt through the good practice defined by La Palma in the GP Directory and

experienced in la Palma during the Peer Review event in 2018

There are several nice examples implemented in La Palma in connection with dedicated astro-

tourism offers; different strategic and touristic marketing plans, through the years, conclude that

La Palma’s tourist development must be linked, not only with the mild weather and the beaches,

but with its exceptional dark sky.

This idea inspired the representatives of Hortobágy National Park to link different values and

potentials of dark sky and traditions/culture, to make the communities living in Hajdú-Bihar

County recognize these values in a clearly understandable way.

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Main findings of the Peer Review, Debrecen, September 2017

Recommendations of Roberto Rodriguez, Susana Malon, Ana Castañeda, Ana Garcia, Laurent

Spithoven, Carole Ewert, Peter Christensen, Sjon De Haan

As recognized by the Peers, Hajdú-Bihar County has the tourist resources needed to create an

astrotourism product: it has traditions related to the sky and the course of the stars, it has a

National Park certified with the Dark Park category, it has a long number of legends related to the

sky.

On the other hand, apparently there is a link to other innovative touristic projects and cultural

resources (e.g. shepherd’s orientation), what certainly bring opportunities for Rural development:

actually, searching for new economic opportunities.

Based on the above-mentioned statements and recommendations, county representatives in

strong cooperation with stakeholders discussed the opportunities to find the point to link cultural

heritage, dark sky and storytelling. The TOP policy brought a great potential to exploit so it is

planned to build such actions in the relevant project.

2. Nature of the action

✓ A1.1 Design the framework of a travelling exhibition introducing shepherds’ culture, its

traditions and link to dark sky

✓ A1.2 Establishment of travelling exhibition

✓ A1.3 Introducing the exhibition in several locations around the county

✓ A1.4 Monitoring the implementation process of the action

3. Stakeholders involved

✓ Ministry of Finance - Managing Authority for Regional Development Operational

Programmes

✓ Ministry of Agriculture

✓ Municipalities of Hajdú-Bihar County

✓ General Assembly of Hajdú-Bihar County – official body of the county to approve

the activities planned

✓ Hortobágy National Park Directorate

✓ County Office of Hungarian Government – Department of Environment and Nature

Protection

✓ Hungarian Association of Astronomy

4. Timeframe

✓ July 2019 – February 2021

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5. Costs

✓ establishment of exhibition, preparing (design and print) informative materials,

transporting the exhibition, staff cost: about 30.000 EUR

6. Funding sources

✓ Territorial and Settlement Development Operational Programme (TOP 5.3.2 –

Strengthening county identity – Following “Hajdú” traditions)

✓ staff cost of Night Light project particularly in the design and monitoring of Action 1

(A1.1 and A1.4)

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ACTION 2. Creating the framework for good lighting

Action 2 is dedicated to the provision of a newly updated comprehensive guidance on good

lighting solutions for relevant actors, particularly for nature conservation bodies and national

parks as well as to insert light pollution issues in relevant policies.

During the stakeholder meetings organized in the county, it was found that there is a significant

number of engaged experts and professionals including enterprises, service providers, policy and

decision makers to put light pollution on the agenda and take the role to insert good and

applicable recommendations and practices in policy documents of different sectors and bodies.

The process is expected to start both at regional and national level.


The action has been generated on the basis of a good practice identified and presented in the

project and the main findings of the peer review held in Debrecen in September 2017:

➢ Good Practice “Good Lighting Guideline”

➢ Recommendation of peers to provide technical workshops and handbook on light pollution

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Good practice “Good Lighting Guideline”

Lessons learnt through the Peer Review event in Naturepark Our, Luxembourg in 2018

Although the concrete law is still missing in Luxembourg, but there were significant preliminary

preparations done to develop and publish good lighting guidance (Leitfaden „Gutes Licht“ im

Außenraum für das Großherzogtum Luxemburg, 2018).

Considering this practice beyond other relevant and already studied sources, relevant ministries

and policy making actors made it clear that they are open to follow-up the existing process of this

field and apply some findings and content of the document as a resource for a similar national

guidance or handbook.




As defined by Peers, the actual revision process of the county spatial plan is a unique opportunity

to introduce high standard regulation criteria (e.g. zoning). This step would generate an additional

legitimation to fix details (for technical/physical factors for the use of artificial light: light

temperature, orientation, shielding, etc.) on a lower level (e.g. settlement spatial plan, settlement

identity handbook, municipality decrees). Working on a legislation draft that involves municipal

technicians, scientists, lighting manufactures, energy companies, ecological and dark sky

associations, etc. in outdoor lighting based in the actual technology, taking care about

international lighting recommendation.

Besides, it was recommended to plan and implement technical workshops for stakeholders on

lighting issues and in the medium term to provide a Handbook on Light Pollution to get the basic

knowledge and regulations.

Recognizing the value of these recommendations, both county and national level measures have

been started.


✓ A2.1 Creating „Guideline on lighting practice for nature conservation bodies and

national park directorates” at national level

✓ A2.2 Building light pollution issues in county spatial planning through the revision

of Spatial Development Plan of Hajdú-Bihar County

✓ A2.3 Setting up „Team for the Sky” working group at county level involving national

policy makers

✓ A2.4 Introduction of latest challenges, achievements and measures concerning

light pollution and astrotourism for the General Assembly of Hajdú-Bihar County by

the “Team for the Sky” working group; regular meetings at least once a year

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Programmes






✓ Bükk National Park Directorate


Protection


✓ Lighting Society of Hungary

✓ E.ON Electricity Supplier

4. Timeframe

✓ December 2019 – December 2021

5. Costs

✓ catering fees for group consultation (800 EUR)

6. Funding sources

✓ public funding through the governmental budget of Hajdú-Bihar County

Government and Night Light project budget for RSG group consultation

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ACTION 3. Strengthening astrotourism through special offers

Action 3 is dedicated to the revision of current ecotourism offers provided in Hajdú-Bihar County

related to dark sky.

Considering the traditional gastronomy culture and also the available spa services, there are

several ways to link both to astronomy/dark sky related offers in order to create new, innovative,

attractive and sustainable ecotourism offers involving different county actors including local

entrepreneurs.


The action has been generated on the basis of a good practice identified and presented in the

project in different partner events and the main findings of the peer review held in Debrecen in

September 2017:

➢ Good Practice “Astronomy and Gastronomy”

➢ Recommendation of peers to link Spa and National Park, Wellness & Nature

Good practice “Astronomy and Gastronomy”

Lessons learnt through Peer Review in La Palma in 2018 and Ávila in 2019

The good practice of successfully linking astronomy and gastronomy has been realized by several

Night Light partners including Ávila County Council, La Palma and Fryslan.

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This practice has a really good and valuable potential in Hajdú-Bihar County based on the existing

cooperation of Hortobágy National Park, Hortobágy Nature Protection and Gene Preservation

Nonprofit Ltd. The is a great opportunity to visit endemic species, meet and discuss shepherds

and enjoy a traditional meal while learn about the dark sky of the area.




According to the findings of the Peers, the spa sector of Hajdú-Bihar County can bring in new target

groups that are interested in doing more than being in the Spa, they come outside the main season

and go for a visit to Debrecen, spend one day and evening in the national park to experience the

nature and learn about the stars. They learn about the way the herdsmen used the stars to

navigate through Europe, somehow coming back to their/own roots.

The new target to be considered as potential could be some of the following:

− Traditional Spa guests

− City trippers from Western Europe, make the stay longer by offering a dark sky or a

Hortobágy World heritage trip

− Cultural tourist, higher educated they want the story about regional traditions and legend

− Bird watching guests as Nature oriented guests

− Education guest, through offering various Astronomy courses

It is important to make the herdsman/shepherd and the grey cattle a centre stage of the

promotion in order to easily connect the products (national park, dark sky, World Heritage, lake,

Debrecen) to this story.


✓ A3.1 Formulation of „Astro-Gastro” tours on Hortobágy

✓ A3.2 Making the base for linking Spa, National Park, Wellness & Nature –

preliminary plan to create/update current tourism offers



Programmes







Protection

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✓ local enterprises/entrepreneurs being active in gastronomy and hospitality

✓ Spa operators of Hajdú-Bihar County

4. Timeframe

✓ December 2019 – November 2021

5. Costs

✓ design and plan new astrotourism offers (5000 EUR)

✓ catering fees for group consultation (800 EUR)

✓ development of structure of potential ecotourism offers linking wellness and nature

(3000 EUR)

6. Funding sources

✓ public sources of Hortobágy National Park (central governmental budget)

✓ public funding through the governmental budget of Hajdú-Bihar County

Government and Night Light project budget for RSG group consultation

✓ national and EU sources (potential new cooperation projects)

✓ private sources provided by local enterprises/entrepreneurs being active in

gastronomy and hospitality

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Part IV – MONITORING PROCESS

Monitoring activities

Hajdú-Bihar County Government (HBCG) will monitor the implementation of the actions defined

in this Action Plan to see the progress and determine the impact of the collaboration.

HBCG will check how the measures introduced are actually implemented and what results are

experienced when actions completed.

Partners will continue the mutual learning process during the implementation phase of the action

plan. “Exporting” and “importing” regions will be in continuous contact in order to successfully

implement the defined actions and adapt the selected lesson learnt to other regions’ context.

HBCG will stay active during the monitoring phase:

✓ regular check of the state-of-the art of different actions will take place in every 3 months

✓ regular contact and common work will be ensured with involved stakeholders in case of

each action

✓ relevant events organized within an action will be documented

✓ short evaluation report (max. 2 pages) will be compiled including the efforts done and the

results achieved when an action is completed

✓ structured informal interviews will be applied with relevant actors (responsible policy

makers, municipalities, nature protection bodies, enterprise representatives, etc.) in order

to practically see the progress and to use monitoring information to adjust the

implementation of actions for areas that are underperforming

✓ final monitoring report (3 pages) will be compiled by the end of Phase 2 including all actions

completed, results achieved and impact on policy addressed in the AF

✓ at the end of each year HBCG will take part in interregional project meeting to discuss all

regions’ achievements.

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NIGHT LIGHT (Improving regional policies to reduce light pollution and protect and valorise dark night skies)

project (2017-2021) brings together two significant challenges: the need to preserve dark skies and to utilize the

potential they have in a sustainable way.

The project was planned to introduce packages of regional policy measures for each of the partner regions that

will result in a lasting reduction of light pollution, the designation of nature areas where dark skies are protected

and the introduction of new services and facilities to attract eco-tourism to these dark sky areas.

Partners

❖ Province of Fryslân- Lead Partner

❖ Hajdú-Bihar County Government (HU)

❖ Avila County Council (ES)

❖ Nature Park Our (LU)

❖ Samsø Energy Academy (DK)

❖ BSC, Business support centre Ltd. (SI)

❖ Basilicata Region (IT)

❖ Matera-Basilicata 2019 Foundation (IT)

❖ Island Government of La Palma (ES)

The project has been co-financed by the European Union European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the

Government of Hungary and made possible by the INTERREG EUROPE Programme

For further information about the NIGHT LIGHT project please visit:

http://www.interregeurope.eu/nightlight

http://www.interregeurope.eu/nightlight

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